Cycle Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand)

What’s the best way to explore Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand? From a bicycle, of course, with the wind in your (helmet-covered) hair and tropical breeze on your face. Cycle out of busy Ho Chi Minh, through the Mekong Delta, past riverside villages and alongside paddy fields, and see life from a different perspective as we meet locals, experience their culture and eat lots of great food (you’ll certainly work up an appetite for it!). Riding around sixty kilometres each day, this is an energising and rewarding way to see the beauty and majesty of Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

Why you'll love this trip

Explore Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand in just 13 days on this speedy but comprehensive adventure

See Indochina as you’ve never seen it before – from the seat of a bicycle. Cycling is the ultimate way get off the beaten track

Work up an appetite for Southeast Asia's famously delicious local and regional food

Get among nature, wildlife, small villages and ancient ruins, as well as the region's most lively cities

We cover approx. 440km/270 miles on this itinerary, averaging around 50km/30 miles each riding day, with 4 non-riding days

Is this trip right for you?

To complete this trip it is important that you are both confident and competent in riding a bicycle.

You’ll be cycling for up to 70 kilometres per day on varied terrain – this trip is for the reasonably fit.

Confident cyclists who want an even longer cycling adventure should opt for ‘TVXCC - Cycle South East Asia’, which includes everything that's on the itinerary of this trip, plus the itinerary of ‘TVXB - Cycle Vietnam’.

The weather in Indochina can be varied. Be prepared to get sweaty and for the occasional rain storm, which may require a change of plans.

Gallery

Itinerary

Xin chao! Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm today. You can arrive at any time during the day as there are no activities planned until this important meeting. Please check with hotel reception or look on the reception noticeboard for where and when the meeting will take place. If you're going to be late, please inform the hotel reception. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please ensure you have all these details to provide to your leader. Because this trip doesn’t spend much time in Ho Chi Minh City, why not arrive a day or two early to see the sights? Ho Chi Minh City has a dynamic atmosphere and a French influence. Perhaps head to Pham Ngu Lao Street to see the local open-aired market, visit Vinh Nghiem Pagoda or one of the amusements parks.

Notes: If you can't arrange a flight that will have you arrive at the hotel in time for the meeting, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Riding distance: none

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Take a three-hour bus ride to the Mekong Delta. Known as the ‘Rice Bowl of Vietnam’, the fertile delta is famous for its harvest of tropical fruit, flowers and rice, as well as the views over the canals. When you arrive in the region, get on your bike for the first full day of cycling. Ride along quiet backroads, past farms and villages and make a stop for lunch. You’ll also get to visit orchards and some local cottage industries. You'll cycle for around 40 kilometres in total today. Around sunset, make your way up one of the canals by boat and reach your homestay. Stay with a family for the night and enjoy a wonderful meal of local specialties.

Notes: At your homestay, you’ll be sleeping on simple camp beds in a dorm-style arrangement. You’ll share a toilet and bathroom facilities with cold water only. Bedding and mosquito nets will be provided.

Riding distance: approx. 40 kms

Accommodation

Homestay (1 night)

Meals Included

Start the day early by boat then bus to riverside Sadec where you start today’s ride, shaking out your sea legs with a cycle (approx. 47 kms) through the bustling settlements along the river. Here you’ll see more of local life dependent on this vital and beautiful river, including lunch at a local community.

Cycle on (approx. 27 kms) and then take a ferry and bus to Chau Doc which is right next to the Cambodian border. Head out in search of the city’s famous hot noodles and cold beer, then stay the night in your hotel.

Riding distance: approx. 75 kms

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Cycle to your last destination within Vietnam, the border town of Tinh Bien (about 30 kilometres) and stop for lunch. You’ll then go through visa formalities and cross into Phnom Den, Cambodia. Meet your new support team and hop on your bike again on your way to Phnom Penh (about 27 kilometres). You’ll be cycling along dusty and bumpy roads for a while, and then along a paved highway which leads to Cambodia’s capital. Once you arrive, you’ll have a free evening to enjoy your first delicious Cambodian meal for the trip. Phnom Penh is quickly becoming a hot destination among foodies, so load up on grilled seafood, fish curry and green mango salad.

Accommodation

Meals Included

Today you’ll confront Cambodia’s tragic past with visits to several historical sites. First stop is the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, a former school which served as a Khmer Rouge torture centre. You’ll take a guided tour of the museum where over 20,000 people were once incarcerated and tortured. Next you’ll visit the Choeung Ek Memorial, where a stupa made up of some 8,000 human skulls marks the site of the infamous Killing Fields. This was where the prisoners of Tuol Sleng were executed and nearly 9,000 corpses have been exhumed from the area. Finally, learn about a brighter period in Cambodian history with a visit to the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda.

Riding distance: none

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Phnom Penh - Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S21) & Choeung Ek

Phnom Penh - Royal Palace & Silver Pagoda

Meals Included

Settle in for a long day of driving as we travel to Siem Reap. The bus ride will take about seven hours but will be full of stunning rural views of tiny towns, and it also gives you the chance to catch up on some shut-eye.

Riding distance: none

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Your day in Siem Reap will involve some leisurely cycling to some iconic sites. You’ll visit the temples of Ta Prohm and Angkor Thom and have guided tours of the sites. These ancient ruins are now overrun by trees and creepers, giving them an eerily beautiful appearance.

Riding distance: approx. 30 kms

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Siem Reap - Three Day Angkor Pass

Angkor - Full day temple cycling tour

Meals Included

Today you’ll cover around 70 kilometres by bicycle on your visit to Banteay Srei, the 10th century temple dedicated to the Hindu god, Shiva. The temple was rediscovered in 1914 and has some of the most intricate carvings in the world. It was restored shortly after discovery using traditional techniques and materials.

Riding distance: approx. 70 kms

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

Leave from Siem Reap early in the morning and head for the border. Our crossing at Poipet/Aranyaprathet should take around 4 hours including the driving and processing time. From the border we transfer to the Tha Kabark Dam. We can have a quick swim and lunch before our next cycling leg - approx 55km to Sa Kaew where we will stay for the night.

Riding distance: approx. 55 kms

Note: On previous versions of this trip we visited the Queen Sirikit Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary. However, due to concerns raised by both our clients and staff around the welfare of wildlife, from 26 June 2017 we longer visit the Sanctuary.

Accommodation

Resort (1 night)

Meals Included

Wake up at sunrise and make your way to the local market. Here you’ll see the Buddhist monks from nearby temples who come to receive food from the villagers in exchange for blessings. Perhaps offer the monks some alms before continuing on your way. Spend the rest of the day cycling along mostly flat terrain towards the small district of Kabinburi. You’ll pass rubber tree and tapioca plantations as well as lush rice fields.

Riding distance: approx. 70 kms

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Included Activities

Kabinburi - Alms giving at morning market

Meals Included

Make your way to Khun Dan Dam, Thailand’s largest dam, for your last full day of cycling. You’ll ride past small villages, paddy fields, farms and shops. Stop for lunch along the way, then enjoy a quick swim. After cycling for around 55 kilometres, pack up the bikes before transferring to Bangkok, your final destination.

Riding distance: approx. 55 kms

Accommodation

Hotel (1 night)

Meals Included

There are no activities planned for today and you’re able to depart the accommodation at any time. However, as we don’t spend much time in Bangkok, why not stay a few days extra to make the most of your time here? We’ll be happy to assist with booking accommodation. Perhaps take a riverboat to Chinatown and explore the crowded streets, wander down the tourist mecca of Khao San Road or pay a visit to Wat Pho, home to the country's largest reclining Buddha. Explore the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, or travel by long tail boat down the Chao Phraya River to explore Bangkok’s famous khlongs (canals). Consider doing one of our day tours of Bangkok, see urbanadventures.com for more information.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available on this trip, please see trip notes for details.
2. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price. Please advise your height at time of booking so as we can organise a suitable sized bike.
3. If you plan to bring your own bike please advise us at time of booking as additional transport is required.
4. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. We are unable to hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Reviews

Linda Gooding

This trip is a great introduction to these three countries. It's incredibly well organized without feeling like you're on a scheduled tour. Beware of the weather though -- extremely hot and humid -- but they had cold water ready for us every 10 km.

Barbara Krueger

People who want to leave the beaten tracks and meet up with the real world are definitely in good hands with Intrepid Travel!
Just make sure that you read the fine print carefully to avoid dissatisfaction!
My new hobby is going to be traveling again with Intrepid!

Review submitted 13 Mar 2018

Cycle Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand) trip reviews

Our Cycle Indochina (Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand) trips score an average of 4.81 out of 5
based on 42 reviews in the last year.